Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-20
A FIERCE FIRE.
Noted FOundries Destroyed
in San Francisco.
HEAVY LOSSES SUSTAINED.
The COnfiagration Caused by a
Petroleum ExplOsiOn-300M Men
Out Of Employment.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HRhALD.

lAeoOe1ated PrCss dispatches 10 inc hkhALD.
SAN Francisco, October 19.-About
9o'clock this evening fire broke out
in the Fulton Iron Works on the cor
ner of Fremont and Howard streets,
owned by Hinckley, Spiers & Hays.
The firm has been using petroleum as
fuel. 1t appears that when the fire.
man was putting petroleum into the
boiler the flames rushed out, caught
up the petroleum that had been
spilled and in few minutes the
building was on fire. The fire de-
partment responded promptly to the
call, but it being found that the usual
number of engines could not stay the
flames, a general alarm was turned in.
In less than an hour the machine
shops of the works were entirely con-
sumed though the foundry proper was
saved.
To the building is estimated at about
SAC, 900, and to the machinery in the
building about $1Uo, Among the
works burned was macn.. ~ six
steam schooners, which was almost
in readiness for delivery. The loss OF
patterns for the machinery is heavy, al
though it cannot we'll be computed in
dollars and cents. The Fulton iron
works is at least third in rank of
works of the kind in the city, and it
made specially of steamship ma.
chinery. The insurance is not yet
known.
OTHER WORKS DESTROYED.
The John Hammond California Car
and MilIwright works which adjoined
the Fulton works was also burned.
The loss to the building which be-
longed to General Halleck's estate is
about $4,000, and to the cars and
machinery in building about $40, 900.
The company was just makin first
delivery to the Powell stree cable
line of an order for street cal and
one OF the heaviest losses is the burn
ing of these cars.
CARS DESTROYED.
In the setting-up shop of Ham
mond's car works there were seven
cars nearly complete fer the National
City and Otay Railroad Company, OF
San Diego. Four of these cars were
destroyed, while the balance, al
though in considerable danger, were
saved from destruction by the efforts
Of the fremen.
HOW IT WAS CAUSED.
The origin OF the confagration, as
stated by a watchman who was an
eye witness, was caused by the eX-
plosion Of petroleum, which is used
for generating the steam for the works.
The watchman, assisted by two other
employees, was making connection
with the tank containing the fluid, the
tank used during the day having be-
come exhausted. The fire in the boil
ers having almost expired, there was
no thought of danger, but small
amount Of petroleum which was left
in the empty tank flowed out upon
the floor toward the expiring Goals
and became ignited. One of the en-
ploy6s seized a pail of water standing
near and threw it upon the blaze. Inn
mediately
AN EXPLOSION
Was the result and the flames soon
communicated with the surrounding
woodwork. The explosion threw
burning fluid in all directions, and the
progress of the flames was so rapid
that the men were compelled to flee
for their lives. one of them. the
watchman, being severely burned.
The fireman on watch soon found that
all efforts to stay the sea of fire were
fruitless, and rushed into the machine
shop giving the alarm to those who
we're in that portion OF the building.
A VALUABLE PLANT.
When the Etna Iron Works closed
down last year number of their tools
we're purchased by the Fulton Works,
and the plant in the establishment was
considered one OF the finest on the
Pacific Coast. The stock OF patterns
consumed was almost priceless, being
the accumulation of over thirty years,
and the designs and specifications OF
various constructions can never be re-
placed.
800 LABoRERs THROWN OUT,
The disaster will throw some 300
persons out OF employment and could
n t have happened at a more mop
perfume time, as orders for machinery
were coming in daily.